A memoir

Lifted to Lead

Dr. Stefan Bean

  • He left Saigon in April 1975, one of the last children airlifted out before the city fell.
  • A family of twelve strangers took him in and made him their own.
  • Decades later, Orange County elected him, and entrusted him with its schools.

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The Book

A memoir. A love story. A leadership book.

A paraplegic orphan who rose from the streets of Saigon to lead a county of American schools.

Part survival story, part love story, and a field guide for leading through adversity.

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5.0 out of 5 · 50+ verified ratings on

TTanya Mansell“Both heartbreaking and heartwarming—a truly powerful testimony to Dr Bean’s resilience.”
DDarlene Hernandez“A powerful reminder that true leadership is about serving others, not seeking recognition.”
MMehri Sahihi Modiri“A powerful reminder that our struggles do not have to become our identity.”
TTodd Z.“Shares Dr. Bean’s life journey with honesty, humility, and heart.”
SSedric“This book touched my heart. Dr. Bean’s story is more than a memoir; it’s a testament to the human spirit.”
AAnthony Dieringer“The LIFTED to Lead framework isn’t just theory—it’s lived experience.”
SSarah M.“More than a biography—this is a leadership guide.”
MMichele“This memoir is nothing short of extraordinary.”
JJoe“True leadership begins with serving others and leading with heart.”
KKristi B“Incredibly hard to put down… I ended up reading it in a single day!”
JJanet Fasheh“I just put this awww inspiring fantastic book down with tears streaming down my cheeks!”
Ggeorge mathew“As an adoptive father, I was deeply moved by Lifted to Lead.”
DDave D.“An incredibly heartwarming memoir, with a powerfully uplifting message.”
GGarrett Kaylor“Wow! I loved the book!”

He was on the second plane.The first never landed.

Evacuation from a rooftop during the fall of Saigon, April 1975

1975

Carried out of Saigon.

Operation Babylift, April 1975. The first flight crashed. 138 died, 78 of them children. He was on the second.

Stefan as a young boy in braces and on crutches, between two men

1970s

A family of twelve.

At four, taken in by the Beans: twelve children, ten adopted.

Dr. Bean with his four children

2000

A promise kept.

Married Janet in 2000. Cancer took her in 2020. She asked him to keep serving.

The Boy on the Cover

Born Nam Le Thanh. Adopted at four. Elected by a county.

  • Carried out of Saigon in April 1975, on the second Babylift flight.
  • Adopted at four by Greg and Judy Bean, into a family of twelve.
  • Today he serves 450,000 students across 28 districts.

Orange County elected him to lead its schools.

Dr. Stefan Bean
Dr. Stefan Bean, Orange County.

Thirty years, classroom to county office.

USC, Loyola Marymount, Cal State Fullerton. Long Beach Unified to the Orange County Department of Education, elected countywide.

The full record

78

children died when the first Babylift flight crashed. He was on the second.

12

children in the family that took him in. Ten of them adopted.

Every one

of Orange County's school districts answers to a superintendent it elected.

The whole story is the book.

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The Framework

Six principles. One to a step.

Six coloured steps climbing to the right, each printed with its principle: Listen and Learn, honor all voices; Inspire Potential, call out gifts in others; Foster Authenticity, model vulnerability; Transform through Hope, speak honestly and hold vision; Empower Strength, entrust others with responsibility; Develop Others, invest intentionally in people

L. Listen and LearnHonor all voices.

I. Inspire PotentialCall out gifts in others.

F. Foster AuthenticityModel vulnerability.

T. Transform through HopeSpeak honestly and hold vision.

E. Empower StrengthEntrust others with responsibility.

D. Develop OthersInvest intentionally in people.

  • Listen and LearnHonor all voices.
  • Inspire PotentialCall out gifts in others.
  • Foster AuthenticityModel vulnerability.
  • Transform through HopeSpeak honestly and hold vision.
  • Empower StrengthEntrust others with responsibility.
  • Develop OthersInvest intentionally in people.

The LIFTED framework, from the book.

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In His Own Words

In the voice that lived it.

“It should remind everybody that they had that one person… that whispered in their ears that they can make a difference.”

Filmed at the book signing.

Appearances

Bookstores, keynotes, signings, schools.

450,000 students. 28 districts. One story, still climbing.

The launch event for Lifted to Lead
Launch night
A book signing queue
Signings across the county
Dr. Bean speaking with a microphone on the field at Angel Stadium
Speaking at Angel Stadium
Dr. Bean on stage teaching, in front of a large slide showing the LIFTED framework as six coloured steps
Teaching the LIFTED framework
Dr. Bean signing copies at an outdoor book signing, golden hour
Signing copies

Upcoming dates, announced here first.

Want Dr. Bean at your school, district, or event? Join the list. Or start with the book: Buy on Amazon.

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An Invitation

Bring the story into a room.

Dr. Bean speaking on stage

He lived this story. Let your people hear it from him. Keynotes, schools, districts, faith and community groups.

  • Leadership through adversityWhere resilience actually comes from.
  • Faith, family and serviceWhat kept him going.
  • Education as the liftFor the people who teach, and the kids they teach.

Invite him to speak at your school or district.

Book Dr. Bean

Back matter

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