Kids visit Deer Isle-Stonington High School

Life Skills students welcome baby goats to class

Dawn Nault and Farrah Faulkingham cuddle a baby goat during a visit to the Life Skills class at Deer-Isle Stonington High School. Photo by Jessi Hardy.

April 21, 2026

By Jessi Hardy

DEER ISLE—Big kids met little kids during a recent Life Skills class at Deer Isle-Stonington High School.

Students received a special visit on April 8 from Malibu, Baylor and ButterScotch, three Nigerian Dwarf goats brought in by their owner and Deer Isle resident Debbie Gerald. The 18-day-old goats, known as kids, came to the classroom as a surprise and students throughout the school flocked to see them.

The visit was organized by teachers, Dawn Nault and Kathy Schrader, to give their students who are in the class a new experience. Nault saw a Facebook post from Gerard about the baby goats and reached out.

“That’s what we do,” Nault said.”Bring dreams to life and try new things.”

Students sat in a circle on the floor as the baby goats first made their appearance in the classroom. Everyone, including the goats, were nervous at first but soon made friends. Photo by Jessi Hardy.

The Life Skills Class is a special education class that helps students with disabilities learn to live their daily lives independently. The course works on learning skills with elements of interaction, hands-on and other core skills.

Gerald shared information about her other goats and animals and explained how human interaction helped the babies become more friendly. Students could feel the nubs on their head where the horns were growing and asked many questions. One common question was how big will the goat get and Gerald told students they will grow to about the height of her knees. She continued to tell students about her other goats, and other animals at her house and how interacting with humans helps the goats.

“It’s great to get the babies out and socializing,” Gerald said. “It makes them more friendly.”

As students sat in a circle, the goats wandered around them. Some teens were nervous about touching or holding a goat but Gerald reassured them it was good to hold and pet them for the animal’s benefit. One goat tried to eat his brother’s diaper and another decided someone's pants were tasty.

Taya Jenkins, a sophomore, has loved goats for a long time and this visit was a surprise by her teachers. Shop teacher Eric Beachy heard about the furry visitors and popped in to be part of the action. When Beachy asked Jenkins if this was a cool experience, she replied with a “yup” while mesmerized.

Senior Gabby Morey was hesitant at first but soon she wanted to hold every one before they departed.

Students and staff were delighted with the visit and smiled as Gerald left. Students had to return to class and Malibu, Baylor and ButterScotch were exhausted from all the pats and snuggles. The “kids” were fast asleep in their pet strollers before they left the school.