In 1947, Contout left South America for Paris, where he studied science and mathematics at the University of Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris 3. After this, he began teaching mathematics. During his time in Paris, he founded the Union of Guianan Students. From 1954 to 1958, he taught mathematics at the Lycée de Douala in Cameroon. He returned to French Guiana in 1958 and taught mathematics at Lycée Félix Éboué in Cayenne. He became headmaster in 1968. In 1969, Contout was named principal at Collège République, where he served for 22 years. The college would be renamed after him in 2004.
