The present research aimed to assess role expectations and job performance of childcare teaching assistants at daycare centers. In order to describe participants' experiences, qualitative data were analyzed using Van Manen’s phenomenological approach. The findings showed that childcare teaching assistants suffered a gap between their role expectations and reality. They felt diverse emotions and doubt about their professionalism through interactions with teachers in charge, directors, parents, and children. The participants claimed that the Nuri curriculum teaching assistants system should be improved to achieve better quality childcare programs. The implications to support the Nuri curriculum teaching assistants system were discussed in depth.