DANIEL NORTH LEAVES A STRONG ARTS COUNCIL THAT HAS GROWN AND PROSPERED

You wouldn't think Daniel North, at age 25, would have much to tell you about his career so far. But take a look: In 1997 he became an intern at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, then served a year and a half as the council's assistant director and now is completing a year and a half as director of the busy arts council.

In that short time, the number of programs offered by the arts council has skyrocketed to 260 from 30. And last December the arts council was designated a state model for community arts programming.

Obviously, all of this took a lot of work, and North was in the thick of all of it. Now he is leaving to teach in St. Louis at a charter school. With the help of other arts council staff and board members, North has made the local group into one that is envied throughout the state. He will be sorely missed.

But the good news is that the arts council is bigger and stronger than ever. As a result, there should be plenty of highly qualified applicants interested in the position.