#TCEA14: 5 to Follow Under 500

Have you ever heard of the flywheel effect? Or the snowball effect? They’re very similar concepts, really, the idea being that it’s hard to get started, but then once you build some momentum, you can really take off. It’s why avalanches are such impressive displays of power: it started with a few flakes of snow and kept building and building, gaining momentum and force.
Conferences like TCEA are a great way for new-to-Twitter folks to gain some momentum, so here are 5 folks at #TCEA14 with less than 500 followers that you should follow:
 
– Rory Peacock: @rorypeacock – Coordinator of Instructional Technology from Fort Worth, TX.
Recent tweet/why you should follow:

Breakfast with the kids this morning! Great way to start the day! pic.twitter.com/Zpcr0wb97u
— Rory Peacock (@rorypeacock) January 22, 2014

I love the humility and openness Rory shares. He’s a real person who is authentically connecting with others.
 
 
–  Lyndsay Ellison: @lyndsaybear – 3rd grade teacher from McKinney, TX.
Recent tweet/why you should follow:

Asking questions lesson plans and anchor charts! http://t.co/12vbIPwS2M#3rdchat
— Lyndsay Ellison (@lyndsaybear) January 25, 2014

Lyndsay is full of energy and great ideas. A must-follow, especially if you’re an elementary school teacher looking to collaborate!
 
– Jared Stevenson: @eduk8r_Jared – assistant principal from Pflugerville, Tx (+10 cool points if you can pronounce that town) .
Recent tweet/why you should follow:

More parents and educators should read this. One test is not the summation of any person. http://t.co/jYib9M1g50 @mcleod #edchat #txed — Jared Stevenson (@eduk8r_Jared) February 4, 2014

Jared is a thought leader. He isn’t afraid of big ideas and asking tough questions. Be careful, he’ll make your brain hurt! 🙂
 
– Brian Romero Smith: @imajnbeingbettr – Technology Visionary at an elementary Montessori and an IB middle school from Grand Prairie, TX.
Recent tweet/why you should follow:

I love tech. No true plan in place, no clue how to navigate the conference, but I have my iPhone and trusty apps…No worries! #tcea14 — Brian Romero Smith (@imajnbeingbettr) February 4, 2014

Brian is in charge of leading the vision for two innovative, high-performing campuses in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. He approaches life as it comes and is as genuine as they come.
 
– Katie Russell: @BHKatie – Director of Technology from Barbers Hill, TX.
Recent tweet/why you should follow:

In the area of technology, we need more help than judgment. #tcea14
— Katie Russell (@BHKatie) February 4, 2014

Katie leads her district in technology, bringing big ideas and a lot of heart to give students every opportunity to learn. She doesn’t shy away from “you can’t” but instead asks “why not?”
So who’s on your list to follow? Who have you connected with recently that you think everyone needs to meet? Please share in the comments!
 
(HT to @ipadsammy who helped me with this list, he’s a much better connector than I am, but I am very grateful for a PLN that is always expanding and always teaching me new things)
 
Greg Garner is currently an Educational Technologist at Eanes ISD in Austin, TX and is our “teacher blogger on location” for the week- covering all the great events, sessions and learning happening at the TCEA Conference.  Follow him on Twitter at @classroom_tech and find him at the conference to say hi in person.