Rose Gilbert

Rose Gilbert was an award-winning English teacher at Palisades Charter High School who taught both J.J. Abrams and Rick Carter. During the early development of Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, Abrams created the character of Maz Kanata as a tribute to Gilbert. After teaching at Palisades for 51 years, Gilbert retired in early 2013, and she passed away on December 16.