In 2006, when Ms.Sando founded The GELL Project (a Green Roof Environmental Literacy Laboratory), it took six years of planning and building for it to be ready for students. Once it had opened, though, it became more than just a green classroom for students to immerse themselves in nature amongst the city buildings. 

Under Ms. Sando's leadership, The GELL Project has received numerous grants and awards, including a notable mention from The New York State Green Ribbon Schools Program in 2012, the Urban Green Council EBie Award, and the National Wildlife Federation Eco-Schools Award and grant in 2011. Ms. Sando has represented this project in The New York Times, on CNN, and NY1 News. Ms. Sando has presented The GELL Project at numerous green roof and education forums. She consulted for A Guide to Green Roofs On Existing School Buildings, developed by the New York Department of Education Office of Sustainability, NYC School Construction Authority, and Department of Environmental Protection Office of Green Infrastructure. 

Ms. Sando also created A Guide to Installing Green Roofs on New York Public Schools. She has written a Pk-5th-grade green roof curriculum booklet for Kingsland Wildflowers in partnership with New York City Audubon and founded the website educationalgreenroofs.org.  Ms. Sando recently wrote and published the children's book, "What Is a Green Roof?" available at Nausicaa Valley Press. Currently, She is the Education Working Group Chair for the Green Roof Researchers Alliance (GRRA).