OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A former teacher's assistant claims she was fired in retaliation for reporting abuse by her supervisor in a lawsuit filed against a public charter school in downtown Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/1PMoyaL ) reports that Sarah Payne filed the complaint against John Rex Charter Elementary School on Dec. 29 in Oklahoma County District Court.

The suit claims Payne observed a prekindergarten teacher drag children across the floor by their arms, throw them out of their chairs and threaten to pull their hair.

Head of School Joe Pierce says that teacher has since resigned.

Payne also claims school officials discriminated against her when she disclosed that she had the chronic inflammatory disease lupus, sought treatment and asked if she could continue working.

The school's attorney, Bill Hickman, called Payne's allegations "unsubstantiated."