RA 9155 has laid the foundation for shared governance in the Department. Regions, divisions, schools and learning centers are identified as the seats where the policy and principle for governance of basic education are translated into programs, projects and services developed, adapted and offered to fit local needs. Under this mandate, Project LEAD: Lead, Empower, and Achieve through Data-Driven Decisions was conceived.

With Project LEAD, DepEd Region VIII would like to move from the old bureaucratic practice of top-to-bottom management to creative and innovative leadership that values empowerment. Create the trend of abandoning passive compliance in favor of active, contextualized implementation. Strengthen the path for critical yet proactive thinking rather than indifference. Unclog the flow of new ideas instead of dormancy. Unstop the summit of excellence in lieu of mediocrity. Moreover, leadership is distinguished by the achievement of its goals which can only happen through decisions that are based on accurate and timely data. Decisions will only merit resources and capable of attainment if anchored on relevant and real evidence.

School Leaders will be capacitated to become strategic leaders who manifest their knowledge, skills, and values through project implementation. They will particularly be trained in spearheading banner projects that are responsive, innovative, and identifiable to their specific division. These will become local initiatives that will reflect the values, needs and aspirations, and interests of all members and stakeholders of the school community.

Through creation and implementation of their own banner projects, school leaders will become strategic thinkers who innovatively and creatively work toward more focused goals and directions for advancement with improved leadership acumen, better instructional capabilities, strengthened harmonious relationships with stakeholders while embracing the organizational reforms aimed to provide basic education services for the best interest of the learners.

An effective and successful banner project implementation begins with a well-crafted plan encapsulated in a program design. An essential component of a program design is in creating branding- which includes creating a “face” of the banner project. Branding involves creating a unique name and image for a product through advertising that would distinguish it from other competing brands to attract and retain loyal customers. This corporate practice has found application beyond corporate practice i.e. government service.

By becoming strategic leaders, they will be well equipped in giving “face” to their banner projects that will be owned by them, identifiable only to them and which will make them stand out from the rest.