Over 3600 applicants for 8 positions. That is what occurred in the Port Washington District on Long Island. As the NY times article "Teaching Facing Weakest Market in Years" reports the situation is much the same in other school districts. Teach for America received 46,000 applicants for 4,500 slots. While many applicants will have to find alternative work, given the tight labor market conditions the average quality of the teachers that are lucky enough to be hired should be higher than usual.