Rose Gilbert

Rose Gilbert, a celebrated English instructor at Palisades Charter High School, instructed both J.J. Abrams and Rick Carter. As Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens](/article/star_wars:_episode_vii_the_force_awakens) was in its initial stages of production, Abrams fashioned the character Maz Kanata as an homage to Gilbert. Gilbert's career at Palisades spanned 51 years before her retirement in early 2013; she subsequently died on December 16 of the same year.