Western Heights school district rejects Oklahoma authority, appoints own superintendent Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoman Replay Video UP NEXT A struggle for control of Western Heights Public Schools has ensued, as both the local school board and the Oklahoma State Department of Education have chosen leaders to run the district. The Western Heights Board of Education spurned the state's choice for an interim superintendent and appointed its own on Thursday. This was the school board's first action acknowledging its former superintendent, Mannix Barnes, isn't able to continue as the district's head. The Oklahoma State Board of Education suspended Barnes' superintendent certification last month.