Chicago schools chief Arne Duncan’s seat is still warm, but the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is wasting no time on the question of who will replace him when he leaves to become the Secretary of Education.

Marilyn Stewart, president of the city’s teacher’s union, said at a press conference today she hopes someone with classroom experience takes the district’s reins. She pointed out that, for more than a decade, managerial-types like Duncan have run the show.

Stewart may see this wish come true. The Sun-Times is reporting that Duncan’s number two, Chief Education Officer Barbara Eason-Watkins, is virtually a shoo-in to replace him. (Catalyst Chicago appears to back that up.)

If Eason-Watkins is the ultimate pick, Stewart would be satisfied. “Barbara came through Chicago,” she said to reporters. “You want someone with the experience, who knows the politics.”

Duncan received a crash course in those dynamics during his seven-year term.

“I’m not going to say that we agreed on everything. It hasn’t been a love fest,” Stewart said of some of Duncan’s more controversial decisions, such as school closures and teacher evaluations. “Arne Duncan and I have worked collaboratively for student achievement … He understands we’re not the enemy.”

For the inside scoop on other potential replacements, education reporter Alexander Russo developed his own short-list (mostly managerial types) and added some commentary about Duncan’s tenure at his District 299 blog.

Below are some highlights from the press conference announcing Duncan's appointment this morning: