New podcast What Counts explores how human connection shapes math classrooms
Limited-series from Impact Florida and De LeCourt examines the stories people carry about math; Season 1 focuses on relationships
[January 28, 2026] — Impact Florida announces the launch of What Counts, a limited-series podcast exploring the math narratives that shape classrooms, and how teachers can help students rewrite what’s possible.
Created as part of the Math Narrative Project, the series supports narrative change by translating project learnings into real-world stories, shared language, and practical reflection for educators and the communities they serve.
Season 1 focuses on relationships. The season began as an internal learning companion for Impact Florida’s Solving with Students Cadre, with a specific purpose: to help shift the way teachers think about math instruction by placing relationships at the heart of teaching and learning. It follows a central Math Narrative Project recommendation to show teachers the impact of their relationships with students on math learning and to support teachers in prioritizing relationship-building in their classrooms.
“The Math Narrative Project has generated powerful learnings, and What Counts helps bring those learnings to life through real stories from educators,” said Claire Riddell, Director of Solving with Students at Impact Florida. “We hope listeners hear themselves in the episodes and leave with language and next steps they can use in their own classrooms and communities.”
Presented by Impact Florida and produced by De LeCourt, What Counts is designed for educators, school and district leaders, teacher coaches, and anyone interested in how classroom culture and human connection influence learning—especially in moments when students are discouraged, disengaged, or convinced math isn’t for them.
What listeners will hear in Season 1
Across five episodes, listeners will hear from teachers and instructional leaders as they explore:
How math narratives form, and how they can shift
Why math can carry so much emotional weight, and what helps students re-engage when they’re shut down or silent
Concrete relationship-building practices that don’t require an overhaul: small routines, feedback loops, and trust-building moves
How classrooms become a web of relationships—peer dynamics, norms, and collective responsibility—and what changes when community holds the room
Takeaways and reflection prompts educators can use solo, in PLCs, and with the communities they serve
What Counts premieres January 28, 2026 and will be available wherever podcasts are available. The primary hub for the series is whatcountspodcast.com.
About Impact Florida
Impact Florida helps educators grow their practice, connects leaders to share what works, and shapes systems so that great teaching can reach every Florida student, in every classroom, every day. Since 2019, we’ve worked across 70% of Florida school districts which serve 93% of the state’s student population. https://impactfl.org/.
About De LeCourt
De LeCourt is a thought leadership and storytelling studio that helps experts, researchers, and mission-driven institutions turn complex work into clear, compelling narratives that travel. De LeCourt creates high-trust communications that translate complex work into clear, usable stories, especially for education and public health. We help ideas take root in trusted communities so they’re not just understood, but adopted. Learn more at https://delecourt.co/
About the Math Narrative Project
The Math Narrative Project aims to advance an evidence-based messaging and narrative change strategy to improve math instruction and outcomes for 6th to 10th grade Black and Hispanic students of all incomes and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and white students from lower-income backgrounds. The project focuses on these students, as they are most likely to encounter systemic barriers to accessing high-quality math education and math resources. Learn more at https://www.mathnarrative.org/.