Paul Ongtooguk graduated from Nome - Beltz High School in Nome in 1975, and went on to earn two BA's, including a BA in History from the University of Washington. He worked for Northwest Arctic Borough School District as a middle and high school teacher and as a curriculum developer. While working for NWABSD Ongtooguk was an original member of the faculty for the Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He taught in that program for three years.

Ongtooguk was an elected member of the Kotzebue IRA council for three years, and was a delegate to the Alaska Federation of Natives. He then earned an MA in Education at Michigan State University. He served as an assistant professor at UAF and at Ilisagvik College in Barrow, where he taught Education, Alaska Native Government and Alaska History. Ongtooguk was a Senior Research Associate at University of Alaska Anchorage and is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Education.