Dr. Stefan Bean was abandoned in Vietnam, evacuated during the war, and adopted into a foster home in San Diego that took in over 150 children. He spent much of his early schooling out of class due to surgeries and language barriers. One teacher made a different call. Years later, Bean leads education for 450,000 students in Orange County. In this conversation, he reflects on the small moments that shaped his path and how those early experiences still guide his decisions today. He also challenges how we define student potential and shares what most people don’t see about how California’s education system works behind the scenes