MOULTRIE — Educator Ricky Reynolds was tapped this week as the new principal at Funston Elementary School.

Reynolds, whose experience includes teaching, directing an after-school reading program, instructing former prison inmates, and serving as assistant principal, has been in the Colquitt County School System for 13 years.

He also worked in business as a restaurant owner and in automobile sales before getting into education.

He was unanimously approved Monday night by the Colquitt County School Board.

School Superintendent Leonard McCoy said Tuesday that he recommended Reynolds for his “general aptitude,” his range of experience, and because he has worked in both middle school and elementary school environments.

“I like his involvement in educational activities that are not directly related to the school system,” McCoy said. “He set out to build a broad set of experiences.”

Reynolds has been assistant principal at Stringfellow Elementary since 2006, with his duties including personnel, discipline, budget, professional development, schedules, facilities and testing coordinator.

Prior to that he was a fourth-grade teacher at J.M. Odom Elementary, and taught sixth, seventh and eighth grades at Charlie A. Gray Middle School.

He also worked as a classroom instructor at Southwest Georgia Detention Center, teaching English, history, math and science. He was an after-school director, and at Charlie A. Gray he was physical education department chairperson and directed the after-school reading program.

The principal’s position was the only top school job opening to be filled over the summer.

Reynolds could not be reached Tuesday for comment on his selection.

In other business Monday, the board:

• Approved a fuel contract with Brad Lanier Oil Co. of Albany. Lanier, the low bidder, agreed to a price of the cost of fuel plus three cents per gallon.

The second lowest bidder’s price was wholesaler’s cost plus 5.5 cents per gallon.

The school system will begin operating in July a bus garage that will have a diesel tank capacity of 12,000 gallons and a 10,000-gallon gasoline tank.