Supervisors of teaching assistants in small English programs should have no other supervisory obligations, should be given released time, and should meet four qualifications: above average as a teacher of lower-division students, experienced in pedagogical learning theory, excellent in human relations, and experienced in trainee supervision. In addition, realizing their primary function is to help trainees to become accomplished teachers of composition, supervisors need to conduct orientation workshops and weekly seminars; to visit classes frequently, with follow-up conferences; to open their basic writing classes to visiting teaching assistants; to provide a communally used syllabus; and to evaluate assistants' performances. (A bibliography accompanies this paper.) (JM)