A believer of being consistent is one of the characteristics Christina Picha attributes to herself.

Picha was hired last month to fill the position of Austin School District's director of human resources after Julie Johnson, the previous director, resigned.

"Time has gone very quickly," Picha said. For the past few weeks, she has been touring the schools, meeting staff and faculty in the district and learning the lingo of the various contracts.

"For me to be a good business partner, I have to tour, visit and know my customers and what every person's job is … It's always good to put a face with a name," Picha said.

Picha grew up in Big Lake, a small town near St. Cloud, and now lives in Bixby with her husband and two daughters.

She attended St. Cloud State University, where she received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and speech. Later, she attended William Mitchell College of Law, earning her law degree with concentration on real estate and contracts.

Along with contracts, she studied general business and labor law.

After earning her law degree, Picha worked in a private firm for several years and she owned a business with her mother. She also worked for 15 years as a human resources generalist for ground operations with Northwest Airlines. Some 6,000 employees are included in ground operations and who used her as a resource in the company, Picha explained.

She learned of the open position through a phone call and decided to apply. With two young daughters and continuous traveling with her job at Northwest, the shorter commute to Austin was welcomed.

Working as a school board member for six years in Big Lake and as a short-call substitute for the Owatonna school district have helped her identify with what teachers and other employees of the school sector do, Picha said.

As the director of human resources, Picha will be in charge of recruitment, hiring, hearing grievances, resolving conflicts, contract negotiating and helping those involved in the school sector such as teacher and other staff understand contracts.

"I am here as a resource and I believe in being consistent in the handling employees issues," Picha said.

Following up on issues is important to her.

"This first few months, I might not have the answer to everything, but I will find it and get back to you with an answer," she said.

She foresees every year of negotiations from here on will be a challenge, specifically because of the state deficit.

For now, she said she is sitting back and learning a lot. Picha explained that before changes are made, input is needed from the people who are going to be affected by the changes.

Though most of her background involves private law, Picha said employees issues are employee issues -- whether you're an in one type of union or another.

Picha said the public law has a different due process versus the private sector, and that's what she will have to learn.

"I am pretty much a straight shooter. I have had very good relationship with previous employees. They knew I would be fair and listen and I'll try to work for what is best for the school district and the kids. I have and open-door policy and I am very customer oriented," Picha said.

Roxana Orellana can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at roxana.orellana@austindailyherald.com