Art teacher Laura Ryan, left, explains the next step of the painting process to students who participate in the Count on Art program at West Valley High School in Hemet. Valley News/Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians photo
West Valley High School in Hemet has been able to provide fine arts classes for its special education students thanks to a grant from the Soboba Foundation. Art is offered every other week, and music has become a weekly class. Overseen by the Exceeding Everyone’s Expectations campus club, the program of Count on Art began about five years ago.The Soboba Foundation, a nonprofit arm of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, continues to fund the program each year and those involved couldn’t be happier. Artist Laura Ryan and musician Billy Tsounis love what they teach and love learning from the students.“I adore the kids; to see them succeed in a project is so rewarding,” Ryan said, who has been a member of the Hemet Valley Art Association for about 15 years. “They are very cr
