Phil Jackson hits school commencement circuit

Phil Jackson hits school commencement circuit

Former Chicago Housing Authority chief Phillip Jackson is taking to the commencement circuit this spring in his new job as Chief for Education of Chicago Public Schools.

On Tuesday, Jackson appeared at the lectern as featured speaker in ceremonies for 19 Robert S. Abbott School graduates, one of five public school graduating classes before whom he will speak this year.

The tone of his address, a stirring speech urging graduates to face the possibility of failure along their path toward success, was typical of the former housing official's enthusiasm. He insinuated no irony into the speech, whose theme closely parallels …