531 Stone Gate Dr.

Tanya Marroquin, Ed.D

Mom
Teacher
Student

I am running for Commissioner because...

My family and I moved to New Braunfels in 2014 and bought our house a year later. It was not the biggest, newest, or nicest house in our budget. However, beside the house was a creek and a wooded area. As an environmentalist, the surrounding nature made me feel at home. I fell in love with the property. I was also told that the city could not develop past my house because of the creek. We enjoyed nesting hawks, owls, rabbits, and other wild animals and birds for the first few years. Once, we even saw a bobcat run out of the woods. The image to the left is an areal view of my house the year we bought it and the bobcat we saw.

Strike one!

Today, this is what our area looks like. Compare the picture to the right with the aerial view above. My house is now next to a road and many homes. It is not just my neighborhood; there are no longer wooded areas.

Strike two!

This is Zane, my son. On August 2023, he was hit by a speeding vehicle as he biked across Alves on his way to Canyon Middle School. We were incredibly blessed that he survived. His injuries included a broken tibia and fibula (which required surgery to insert metal rods) on his left leg, a cracked clavicle, a sprained hand, and a minor head injury. He spent almost a week in the hospital. Zane’s accident directly resulted from the growing development in this area.

Quick insight

Mom

At the age of 22, I became a mom. This is the most important job I ever or will have. I have learned so many things as a mother. My son was diagnosed with Asperger's at the age of five. Raising a child on the spectrum has taught me to be patient, accept others, and understand human reactions. Something as simple as compromising and listening to his needs could turn a difficult situation into a learning experience. At 31 I had a second child. He is now a 12-year-old transgender child. I also have three wonderful step-children and one beautiful (step) granddaughter. Raising five (three part-time) children has had its ups and downs but has made me stronger than I ever thought I could be. I will fight for my children and their future. I want my children to feel accepted and live in a community where the LGBTQ+ sticker on my car does not prompt someone to vandalize it because they don’t agree with my views (this happened here in New Braunfels).

Teacher

I have been a teacher for eight years. I am dedicated to helping underprivileged students recognize their strengths and passion to meet their educational and life goals. My teaching philosophy is “For a student to reach their full potential, it is first important to help them recognize they have potential”. Respect and a voice are the two things everybody wants. By giving students these two things, it has been my experience that they will convey this to others.

I strive to teach others. I believe knowledge is power and it is my mission in life to help empower others.

Student

There was a time when I did not think I could go to a four-year university. Not because I was not smart enough, but because it was not something that my family did. I became the first person in my family to receive a bachelors. I went on to receive my Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in Science Education. I am now finishing up my Doctorate of Education. I love learning and doing research. There is always something to learn, whether it is from a book or life. The pursuit of truth and understanding makes me a lifelong learner.

Tanya Marroquin, Ed.D