About Sun Valley Middle
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Sun Valley Middle is located in Indian Trail, N.C., and is one of nine middle schools in Union County Public Schools. We serve approximately 1,325 students in grades 6-8.
- Elementary Feeder Schools: Shiloh Valley Elementary, Indian Trail Elementary, Rocky River Elementary
SVMS students have five classes in a day – three are Core (Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies alternating); two are Encore (Ex. Physical Education, Art, Drama, Band, etc.). Core classes are about 80 minutes in length and Encore classes are approximately 40 minutes in length. Depending on the grade level, rotation, and specific Encore class, Encore classes are either on an A/B-day schedule, for a year-long, semester-long, nine weeks or six weeks in length.
Contact and General Information
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- Sun Valley Middle School
1409 Wesley Chapel Road
Indian Trail, NC 28079 - Phone: 704-296-3009
- Fax: 980-357-4154
- Office Hours: M-F 8:05 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
- Sun Valley Middle School
Fast Facts
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- Traditional Calendar
- Start Bell: 9:05 a.m.
- Doors open at 8:30 a.m.
- Students may not be dropped off earlier than 8:30 a.m.
- End Bell: 4:05 p.m.
- Mascot: Spartans
- Colors: Maroon and yellow
Meet Our School Administrators
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Dr. Gina Chisum (Principal)
About Dr. ChisumDr. Gina Chisum was named principal of Sun Valley Middle School at the June 2022 Board of Education meeting.
As principal of Sun Valley Middle, it is my passion to cultivate and facilitate a collaborative, positive learning environment of continuous learning and reflection through systems thinking processes, elevating critical thinking for all school community stakeholders, and building collegial partnerships with all community stakeholders for shared accountability for all learners.
I believe that the constant variable of humankind is that people, in general, do not care what you know until it is known that you truly care. As a result, it is my educational philosophy that we build relationships with our students so that they know that there are adults in this school community who genuinely care about each child's social, emotional, physical, and intellectual well-being. This only happens when parents and educators work in unison to communicate openly and frequently to improve learning for all children.
I started my educational journey while my children attended school at Indian Trail Elementary. I volunteered as their room mom and as a PTO parent. As a substitute and interim teacher, I began to see the impact one could have on learning based on a positive attitude and a little fortitude. As a result, I returned to school at Wingate University and obtained my Professional Educator's License to teach K-6 while serving as an Instructional Assistant at Indian Trail Elementary. Once obtaining my license, I taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade. I have also had the privilege of working with Central Services as an Instructional Technology Facilitator. In 2017, I obtained my Education Specialist degree from Wingate University. In 2018, I continued to pursue further learning and obtained a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Wingate University. These opportunities have enabled me to see how the whole puzzle fits together so that at the center of each working component are our students - no part working in isolation, but each part working in symphonic harmony so that each child is empowered to embrace lifelong learning. My background has helped me to acquire substantial knowledge that makes me intuitive, personally relational, and 21st-century-driven. It is my joy to be serving my home campus as an educational leader and I can't imagine anywhere else that I would rather be!
Degrees and Certifications
- Doctorate of Educational Leadership, Wingate University
- Education Specialist Degree, Wingate University
- Masters in Art of Teaching, Wingate University, 2005
- National Board Teacher Certification, 2012
- Certification for Online Teaching, 2012
- Bachelors in Science of Music, Lee University, 1990
Contact Dr. Chisum
- Email: gina.chisum@ucps.k12.nc.us
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Alycia Nikolaus (Assistant Principal)
Contact Ms. Nikolaus -
David Thomson (Assistant Principal)
About Mr. ThomsonMr. Thomson began his career in education in 1998 at Sun Valley High School as a Marketing teacher. He has been in administration since 2014 as an Assistant Principal at Marvin Ridge High School. Mr. Thomson is excited to re-join the Sun Valley cluster and serve the wonderful middle school community. He completed his undergraduate degree from SUNY Fredonia and completed his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Wingate. Mr. Thomson prides himself as a "keeper of odd knowledge". He also enjoys spending time with his wife and children and working on cars.
Contact Mr. Thomson
- Email: david.thomson@ucps.k12.nc.us
