Meet Our Founder

Kristine Fringer founded Symbiosis Academy to create a more thoughtful, individualized, and relationship-centered approach to education for families seeking a different path.

In 2019, Kristine founded Symbiosis Academy after recognizing that many families were searching for an alternative to conventional schooling. Some students were struggling with anxiety, learning differences, or the demands of traditional classrooms. Others were thriving academically but were looking for a community that offered rich academics, meaningful friendships, time in nature, and the freedom to learn at their own pace. She envisioned a place where education could be intellectually rigorous, deeply human, and joyful - where students would be known as individuals rather than measured against a standard model.

As she explored different educational models, Kristine discovered that Massachusetts' homeschooling framework offered a unique opportunity to reimagine what education could look like. Rather than being limited to either traditional school or learning at home, the flexibility of the homeschooling framework made it possible to create a learning community where students receive a rich, engaging education in small classes while benefiting from individualized instruction, meaningful relationships, abundant time in nature, and the freedom to learn in ways that honor their unique strengths. That realization became the foundation for Symbiosis Academy.

She chose the name Symbiosis intentionally. In nature, symbiosis describes different living organisms that thrive through mutually beneficial relationships. The name reflects the belief at the heart of the school: that students, educators, families, and the natural world all grow stronger through relationships built on trust, curiosity, collaboration, and mutual respect. Learning is not something done to children - it is something that flourishes within a connected community.

What began as a small program serving a handful of middle and high school students has grown into a K-12 learning community serving families from across Massachusetts. Symbiosis Academy partners with families to provide small classes, individualized instruction, project-based learning, outdoor education, and a compassionate, noncompetitive environment where students develop both academically and personally.

The program welcomes students with a wide range of learning profiles, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, autism, as well as students who simply flourish in a smaller, more flexible educational setting.

Kristine earned her bachelor's degree from Tufts University and her master's degree in Communications from Boston University. She spent much of her childhood living overseas, an experience that fostered a deep appreciation for different cultures, educational philosophies, and ways of learning. Throughout her career, she has worked in education, communications, and nonprofit organizations, bringing together her passion for learning, communication, and building strong communities.

Kristine believes there is no single "right" way to educate a child. Every student brings unique strengths, interests, and ways of learning, and education should adapt to the child - not the other way around. She believes that when students feel safe, respected, challenged, and inspired, they develop not only academic knowledge, but also confidence, resilience, curiosity, compassion, and a lifelong love of learning.

Today, Kristine continues to lead Symbiosis Academy with the same vision that inspired its founding: to create a learning community where children love coming to school, families feel genuinely supported, and learning is both meaningful and joyful. She believes that the greatest measure of an education is not simply academic achievement, but whether a child leaves with confidence, curiosity, kindness, and a lasting love of learning.