Bo Garrett, president of Cristo Rey Birmingham, announced today that Principal Hunter Wolfe has submitted his resignation from the school, effective Oct. 12, to accept a new opportunity as market manager for Primer Schools in Alabama, which recently relocated its Birmingham K-8 program to Cristo Rey’s campus. “The opportunity to combine my passion for leading schools, honing my entrepreneurial spirit, and simultaneously serving families looking for alternative educational models was not something I could pass up,” noted Wolfe. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with Cristo Rey in my new role with Primer as we work together to provide Alabama families with more choices for their children’s education."

During his tenure at Cristo Rey, Wolfe oversaw significant academic growth at the school, implementing a more robust high school experience through the addition of pre-AP courses, the expansion of AP offerings, and the introduction of dual-enrollment opportunities for junior and senior students. The improvements led to a notable rise in SAT scores and college readiness benchmarks, with 100 percent of graduating seniors being accepted to college. He leaves behind a strong foundation for the school’s future, and Cristo Rey is deeply grateful for his dedicated service and leadership.

“We are a far better school and community having been graced with Hunter Wolfe’s leadership as principal. His remarkable empathy for others and seemingly limitless capacity for building meaningful, authentic relationships have made so much of our school’s continued growth and success over the last two years possible,” said Garrett. “We will certainly miss seeing his smiling face in hallways everyday, but the legacy of academic excellence he leaves with us will be seen and heard in the classrooms for years to come.” 

To ensure a smooth transition for students, staff, and families, Cristo Rey has appointed Kaleb Moode, currently serving as assistant principal, as interim principal, effective Oct. 13. Moode began his teaching career at Holy Family Cristo Rey (now Cristo Rey Birmingham) in 2018, serving as a history teacher and member of the Instructional Leadership Team, before being appointed assistant principal in 2023. A native of Birmingham, he holds a B.S. in Criminology from the University of South Florida, an M.Ed in Social Science Education from Troy University, and an M.Ed in Educational Leadership & Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is also a member of the 2026 cohort of the Cristo Rey Network Principals Fellowship Program. In addition to his thorough understanding of Cristo Rey’s unique model, Moode is deeply committed to academic excellence, student-centered leadership, and community and family engagement. 

“I am honored to have the opportunity to continue serving the Cristo Rey community, and I look forward to working alongside our students, families, faculty, and staff to further our mission,” Moode remarked. “I am excited to continue building on the momentum we have created under Mr. Wolfe’s leadership by continuing to provide students with a college-focused experience from the moment they enter our school until they graduate. I, along with the entire faculty and staff, remain committed to preparing every student to succeed through college and enter a prosperous career.” 

“Mr. Moode is well positioned to guide our community along its current path toward continued success during this interim period,” said Garrett. “No one can doubt his commitment to our students, families, and faculty. His passion for our mission permeates everything he does. We are beyond fortunate to have such a committed and capable leader who is willing to take on this demanding position. I am excited to work alongside him in this interim role. I have complete confidence in his ability. We are all in good hands.” 

In the coming weeks, Cristo Rey will begin a comprehensive, nationwide search for a permanent principal with support from the Cristo Rey Network. More details about the search, which will include opportunities for staff, student, and family input, will be shared in October. 

To learn more about the school, please visit cristoreybhm.org.