Staff Profile

Quentin Wathum-Ocama (Mr. Quentin) is proud to serve as a Kindergarten Teacher at Maxfield Elementary. A lifelong resident of Saint Paul, he is also a proud graduate of Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS), where he attended from Pre-K through 12th grade. His work with SPPS began in 2014, and after a short time away, he returned in 2019 and has served full-time ever since.

Education runs in Mr. Quentin’s family—his father, brother, and sister-in-law are all current or former SPPS educators—which has deeply shaped his own commitment to teaching and community. He believes kindergarten is a transformative year that lays the foundation for a child’s academic and social success, and he strives to create a joyful, inclusive classroom where every child feels valued and inspired to learn.

Mr. Quentin earned his Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Minnesota and his Master of Education in Youth Development Leadership from the U of M’s School of Social Work, where he also completed a graduate minor in Public Policy through the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Most recently, he completed a Master of Arts degree at Concordia University, Saint Paul.

He and his wife, Rachel, are raising their daughter, Lucy, in the nearby Snelling-Hamline neighborhood. Living in the community deepens his investment in Maxfield and his commitment to ensuring every scholar and family feels at home at the school.