Ask an Expert – Manda Ettlinger

Interviewer: What is your name?  

Marble: Manda Ettlinger 

Interviewer: What is your position at Six Red Marbles? 

Marble: Editorial Director, Mathematics 

Interviewer: What does that position entail? 

Marble: I manage a team of math content developers as they collaborate with clients and then partner with writers, editors, and designers to bring a project vision to life. I also scope projects, determine resource planning, define workflows, and monitor project budgets. Most importantly, I aim to create a collaborative environment where my team is valued. 

Interviewer: How did you become a part of Six Red Marbles? 

Marble: I started my educational publishing career working for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for 13 years. Six Red Marbles was one of the vendors I worked with, and I really enjoyed working with their math team. They knew their stuff and took great care in delivering the content that we needed. I welcomed the opportunity to join the team, and it will be my 10-year anniversary with SRM later this year!  

Interviewer: What is the best part of your job? 

Marble: Working with my team! They are the smartest, funniest, and most caring group of people I have ever worked with. Their knowledge and experience are wide, and we learn a lot from each other. 

Interviewer: What do you wish people knew about your work at Six Red Marbles? 

Marble: The range of products we develop and platforms and tools we use to create those materials.  

Interviewer: What is a trend you see happening in the education space that you’re excited about?  

Marble: Representation. As a Filipino American, it is great to see an effort of inclusion of traditionally underrepresented groups in educational materials, especially in STEM fields. Being able to see yourself and capturing interest is important, as it can open a student’s world to great careers. We need these diverse viewpoints and experiences to shape the future of STEM fields. 

Interviewer: What is one interesting fact about yourself that you’d like to share? 

Marble: I love visiting national parks! I’ve been lucky to cross four more off my list this year: Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Mesa Verde. I moved to Colorado last year and visit Rocky Mountain National Park often to see the seasonal changes.